014: The Power of YET – A Growth Mindset Secret

The idea behind this podcast is that our mindsets determine the way we see the world. And, because it’s so easy to stay stuck in Fixed Mindsets, that prevents us from learning new things, it’s vital to intentionally cultivate Growth Mindsets.

These concepts of Fixed and Growth Mindsets are based on the work of Carol Dweck, a Stanford University psychologist.

Dr. Dweck’s 10-minute TED Talk, “The Power Of Believing That You Can Improve”, gives a powerful introduction to these concepts.

One of my favorite golden nuggets from her presentation is how she explains the Power of YET.

She begins by describing research studies about how 10-year-old children coped with learning challenges.

In her own words:

“So I gave 10-year-olds problems that were slightly too hard for them. Some of them reacted in a shockingly positive way. They said things like, “I love a challenge,” or, “You know, I was hoping this would be informative.” They understood that their abilities could be developed. They had what I call a growth mindset. But other students felt it was tragic, catastrophic. From their more fixed mindset perspective, their intelligence had been up for judgment and they failed. Instead of luxuriating in the power of yet, they were gripped in the tyranny of now.”

So what do they do next? I’ll tell you what they do next. In one study, they told us they would probably cheat the next time instead of studying more if they failed a test. In another study, after a failure, they looked for someone who did worse than they did so they could feel really good about themselves. And in study after study, they have run from difficulty. Scientists measured the electrical activity from the brain as students confronted an error. On the left, you see the fixed mindset students. There’s hardly any activity. They run from the error. They don’t engage with it. But on the right, you have the students with the growth mindset, the idea that abilities can be developed. They engage deeply. Their brain is on fire with yet. They engage deeply. They process the error. They learn from it and they correct it.”

Let’s think about these studies for a moment. Research shows us that when a child has a Fixed Mindset as regards their skills and abilities they run away from challenges, they even go as far as to cheat, and compare themselves with children who do worse than they do. If they have a Growth Mindset, they see difficulties as a challenge to overcome, to learn from. Their brain fires up, and they engage.

These same principles apply to adults as well.

Think about the implications of these principles for our personal and professionallives.

If we are locked into a Fixed Mindset, we are gripped in the tyranny of now.

If we challenge ourselves with a Growth Mindset, we can luxuriate in the Power of YET.

So, how can we cultivate a Growth Mindset in our lives?

Here are some clues from Dr. Dweck:

“First of all, we can praise wisely, not praising intelligence or talent. That has failed. Don’t do that anymore. But praising the process that kids engage in: their effort, their strategies, their focus, their perseverance, their improvement. This process praise creates kids who are hardy and resilient.

There are other ways to reward yet. We recently teamed up with game scientists from the University of Washington to create a new online math game that rewarded yet. In this game, students were rewarded for effort, strategy and progress. The usual math game rewards you for getting answers right right now, but this game rewarded process. And we got more effort, more strategies, more engagement over longer periods of time, and more perseverance when they hit really, really hard problems.

Just the words “yet” or “not yet,” we’re finding, give kids greater confidence, give them a path into the future that creates greater persistence. And we can actually change students’ mindsets. In one study, we taught them that every time they push out of their comfort zone to learn something new and difficult, the neurons in their brain can form new, stronger connections, and over time they can get smarter.”

How can we apply this to ourselves?

For instance, as a service provider, I can focus on developing my resilience to failure.

8 comments

Hi Ana, this was great! I can see how I had a fixed mindset when I was in high school, but since I lost my sight my mindset has changed. I am going to share this with my sister who is having problems with her schooling right now. I really like how you say add yet to the end of everything how perfect! I hope you and your family are having a wonderful holiday season and have a Happy New Year!

Thanks So much Yvonne for leaving your comment. Being aware that we have a fixed mindset about something it’s really the first step to start changing. Then starting to add YET, just open new possibilities. Happy New Year to you too 🙂

Comment by Ana Melikian on December 31, 2014 at 1:32 pm

Hi Ana, Thank you for sharing Dr. Dweck’s powerful message and for showing us the value of cultivating a growth mindset. You’ve helped us see that, when we believe that we can change and grow, we can truly transform our work and all other aspects of our lives.

Comment by Vered Kogan on January 6, 2015 at 7:39 pm

And thank you Vered for always sending me great resources, including the link to this specific video of Dr. Dweck 🙂

Comment by Ana Melikian on January 6, 2015 at 9:48 pm

Thanks Ana. I’m glad to have found this. It’s powerful teaching! I believe I was stuck in a fixed mindset for many of my adult years and since turning 50 have been intentional about stretching and finding areas to grow. Now it seems like growth is a daily activity. It’s changed how I parent my sons who are still at home.